Sir Roy McNulty, has criticised the Gatwick Express train service, saying that it “at times veers towards Third World conditions”. Photo: Wikipedia

McNulty, speaking to London Evening Standard, aired his concerns that the Gatwick Express service gives incoming passengers a bad first impression due to overcrowding and old rolling stock.

“In the short to medium term, our main priority is improvement in the road and rail infrastructure that serves the airport – and above all improvement in the Gatwick Express,” said McNulty.

A spokesperson for Southern, which operates the Gatwick Express, said: “In addition to providing a direct airport link, Gatwick Express services now provide around 20,000 extra peak seats between Brighton and London every week to help meet the capacity challenge on that route.

“Balancing the needs of the airport and the needs of Brighton line commuters is always going to be challenging particularly when operating over some of the most congested tracks in the country.”

Gatwick last week submitted its response to the Airports Commission, headed by Sir Howard Davies, which is looking at how to expand airport capacity in the south-east.

The airport argues in its submission that there needs to be better rail services to London’s airports, in order to attract more airlines.

“Although it already has excellent rail links, the airport – as well as some of its airlines – believe more dedicated, high quality and value for money services into London are fundamental to encouraging greater use of its capacity,” said Gatwick in a statement.